I can learn from a single eyebrowed, knuckle-scraping, hairy-palmed, sloping forehead, neanderthal who happens to be insane, a "dark person", a person with serious psychological-emotional problems. But I seek to learn from someone whom I can trust.

I contend and as I was taught people who are studying so they can actively-deliberately hurt someone... someone who studys so they can bully someone, folks with secret agendas, motives will be found out.

It is not that easy to hide them because the process of training takes time and close personal interactions with others studentts and teachers. Things come out/up.

4. REI (Right Action): Etiquette and the preservation of courtesy. The Samurai believed that it was better to lose his life than to be impolite.

5. MAKOTO (Truth, Sincerity): Truthfulness

6. MEIYO (Honor): Glory without ego.

7. CHUUGI (Devotion): Loyalty.

My reply sorry BrainS for not using the quote feature next time..

All thoughs values bring about this common thought. Maybe not that much since the taken out of bowing and mutual respect. Some schools teach don't respect me bc I'm your teacher, respect me bc I can whip your a$$. I don't think thats the proper meaning of respect maybe fear. Respect me bc I took the time out to teach you something I deem important.

Thats what we mean that Karate teaches more then just fighting. It teaches a higher morality, it teaches self worth and a Universal communion. But it also teaches the Ying and the Yang, Peace and War, Life and Death they are all part of one cycle.

I believe that you can have a fearsome warrior in a peaceful man, that has trained hard and he will have true technique and ethical manners.

I've seen poor & strong technical skill and fearsome teaching bring about effective street or tourney fighters but no outlook on how the world r society connects to them. Just winning is everything. But I guess it all what you want.

Didn't mean to get spaced out or sound creepy on you, but I do think complete Karate teaches more then just fighting.

Some Karate I venture to say most, teaches walk away if you can, you have the confidence to know you don't have to. A Coward run because he has to, a Warrior walks away because he wants to. Its all about judging is it worth it, looking at the big picture. It ain't about kicking a$$ all the time. Its about living right with less stress.

but when secure with your own choice of training, why worry about what the other people choose to do when you disagree with it?

I think the forums are a good way to screen out time-wasting 'look-n-see-n-say-hi' visits. If someone is a jaded, grumpy, a-hole. bad 'karate-budo'. bad mojo. bad karma. whatever you want to call that hate vibe. I don't care if he's got secret katas and the holy grail of chi power...I'm not wasting my time meeting with him to even say 'hi'.

similarly, I wouldn't waste my time with someone who is dishonest or in serious denial, who talks about 'th3 d34dly', but then puts a video up of him not even able to break thru a wet paper bag.

Then there are the outright frauds.

but yes, I think you right harlan...it does come down to the company we choose to associate with - and I'm happy to be associated with you and our study group.

don't let the grumps you run into online get you down. I look at it this way: If I don't respect someone and they insult me...how can that possibly have an effect on me?

You know that this thread is 'inspired' by a recent run in by some uncouth characters. But it highlights for me something that all the rightous 'traditionalists' focused on content or form are overlooking: it's about character.

Dammit...I'm not a sissy for pointing this out, or some wide-eyed naive youth. You know, if someone HAS to learn from a person of low character...then somewhere along the line...somebody screwed up by teaching that person.